Arrows Pointing Way Up for Sawyer

by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published July 24, 2025, 5:49 PM

There’s always that one guy at camp who makes you scribble his number over and over again in your notepad. For me, it’s #33 Jack Sawyer.

Since OTAs, the rookie out of Ohio State has looked the part. Quickness off the edge. Burst at the snap. An explosive lean that makes offensive tackles sweat before the contact even starts. Time after time, Sawyer pops off the edge and onto my page, a consistent disruptor who’s turning reps into results.

But let’s be real this is still a rookie we’re talking about. A rookie who’s not just learning the playbook and adjusting to NFL speed, but one who’s also carrying the helmet of the highest-paid defender in football, T.J. Watt.

Still, Sawyer’s presence has been hard to ignore. While most rookies are just trying to survive camp, Sawyer is flashing.

“Yeah. I mean, we don’t have pads on yet, so it’s still football-like,” Sawyer said modestly. “But it feels good. Feels good to get out with the guys and feel really blessed opportunity to play this game at a professional level.”

Sawyer’s story isn’t the typical five-star rocket ship. He didn’t burst onto the scene at Ohio State right away. It took time he spent simmering on the stove before finally boiling over his junior year.

“Ohio State wasn’t the best,” he admitted. “I didn’t really play until my junior year. So, you know, I just kind of put my head down. You focus on where you’re at. And if you take care of business on the field on Saturdays, Sunday will be calling.”

He’s in a perfect spot to learn, tucked in behind T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig on the outside linebacker depth chart. Instead of sulking over a rookie workload, he’s soaking it all in like a sponge.

“My few interactions with T.J. (are helpful) and Alex has been great mentor to me,” Sawyer said. “And Herbig’s kind of like my wingman. They always got these little nuggets different ways to stretch, go about your morning, just how to be a pro. It’s already helping me.”

Even in the most humbling of rookie traditions snack duty Sawyer is taking it in stride.

“Thankfully Yahya (Black) ordered like four big boxes of snacks for all of us rookie D-linemen,” he laughed. “So, he took care of that. But as you can see, I’m carrying T.J.’s helmet to the field.”

Sawyer isn’t just carrying gear he’s carrying expectations, culture, and the hope that the next great Steelers edge rusher might already be here.

With Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig ahead of him, Sawyer’s not in a rush. But in this system, with those mentors, the chance to blossom is real.

For now, I’ll keep jotting down “#33” on the notepad. Because when camp wraps and pads go on, I get the feeling Jack Sawyer won’t be sneaking up on anybody anymore.

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com